Freedom from Torture
Civil Society Coalition against Torture and impunity in Tajikistan
The Coalition Against Torture has completed a 30-day campaign under the slogan “Rights! Dignity! Development!”
Submitted by admin on 10.12.2020 - 17:50
The Coalition against Torture and Impunity in Tajikistan has conducted a 30-day campaign under the slogan “Rights! Dignity! Development!” to commemorate World Human Rights Day.
During the month, from November 10 to December 10, posters have been prepared based on 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which were posted daily on the Coalition website and its pages in social networks.
This campaign aimed to promote human rights through the Universal Declaration, as one of the fundamental instruments of the International Bill of Human Rights.
On November 10, 2020, an advocacy campaign “COVID-19 and Human Rights”[1] was held in four districts of the capital. During the event, lawyers and interns of the Coalition against Torture and Impunity in Tajikistan provided free individual legal advice and distributed personal protective equipment (PPE) - masks, gloves, and hand sanitizers. Personal protective equipment and legal advice have been provided to ordinary passers-by of all ages - from young people to the elderly. Questions from citizens concerned, in particular, employment and the proper registration of labor relations with the employer, payments during incapacity due to COVID-19 disease, housing issues related to contributions to new buildings and the proper registration of the ownership transfer, access to information and the deadline for responding to citizens’ appeals, etc.
The advocacy campaign has been held in crowded places of the capital - near the “Bozori Varzob” market (I. Somoni district), near the shopping center “Sadbarg” (Shohmansur district), near the “Yakkachinor” market (Firdavsi district), and near “Zarafshon” market (Sino district).
On November 13, 2020, an hour live “Come back show” program on radio “Asia-Plus” hosted by Bakha Nazirbaev and Darya Khristolyubova was held, during which a radio quiz was conducted and online consultations were provided.[2] At the beginning of the program, an audio clip was played and then the lawyers of the member organizations of Coalition against Torture and Impunity in Tajikistan – Sayfulloev Salim, Uroqov Zafar, Shozodaeva Gulguna, and Hisomov Daler spoke about the World Human Rights Day and answered the radio audience questions. At the end of the radio program, a quiz has been conducted, in which the winners, who have provided the right answers were awarded prizes: thermal mug Rondell Infinity RDS – 923, iron Maxwell 3039, hairdryer Grundig 2509, electronic scale Maxwell MW – 2666, electronic scale Maxwell MW – 2667. The event is aimed at the legal education of the population, awareness-raising, and testing the knowledge of the population on their rights and responsibilities according to international norms and the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan.
On November 18, 2020, a “movie club” in the capital’s “Kayhon” cinema was held[3]. The event was organized by the Coalition against Torture and Impunity in Tajikistan. More than 70 participants of “movie club” after watching the movie “The Green Mile”[4] (produced by Frank Darabont, written by Stephen King) engaged in a discussion on Human rights according to international standards and national legislation. All those interested in and over the age of 16, participated in free watching. The purpose of the “cinema club” is to draw the attention of citizens to the supreme value of society – Human Rights.
On November 23- 25, 2020[5] over 60 people have participated in the training marathon on human rights. The event was held in Parking Cafe with due regard to precautionary measures in the light of COVID-19.[6]
Participants were given a brief history on human rights, shown a film about the emergence of human rights and the Bill of Human Rights, followed by the discussion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Constitution principles, international standards on the right to adequate housing together with mentors. At the end of the event, a quiz was held on the Kahoot platform, the most active participants received prizes: iron (Maxwell MW – 3056 B -1 pc.) and hairdryer (Gorenje Hair Dryer HD 122B hairdryer - 92 pcs.)
On December 1, 2020, the Coalition of Civil Society against Torture and Impunity in Tajikistan released a wall flip calendar for 2021 on human rights and distributed it among partners, colleagues, and also sent greeting cards to international, public organizations, mass media, and government officials. Each page of the calendar contains articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
On December 6, 2020, a debating tournament “Cup of Rights” took place[7]. The tournament was held between 08:00 and 21:00 in the capital’s Center for the study of the German language “DEX”[8]. Mikhail Druzhinin, Manuchehr Gafarov, Alexandra Smirnova were invited as judges of the tournament, Nuriddin Ishonkulov was invited as the main judge of the tournament. The main tasks of the judges were to develop topics for the tournament and conduct judging, where they had to give an objective assessment on the subject of the dispute and determine the winner.
16 teams registered for the tournament, two people each from among those interested (32 people in total), four judges, and 10 spectators. The winner of the “Cup of Rights” tournament has become the “Sky” team, the “Privetik” team placed second, the third place went to the “CHBD” team, and the “Oblako” team took the last place. The best judges of the tournament have become Alexandra Smirnova and Mikhail Druzhinin. The best speaker of the tournament has become Bakhtiyor Kurbonov, a representative of the “My za Dzyubu” team, Manizha Kadamova from the “Oblako” team became the second-best speaker, and Tamanno Sharipova became the third-best speaker.
Also, infographics and multimedia materials were prepared:
1) Infographics: “International mechanisms for the human rights protection”
https://notorturetj.org/news/infografika-mezhdunarodnye-mehanizmy-v-zashchitu-prav-cheloveka
2) Infographics: “Moral harm to victims of torture and ill-treatment: how it is compensated”
3) Multimedia: “Do you know your rights?”
The events were made possible with the financial support of the European Union within the framework of the project: “Strengthening actions to prevent torture and support human rights organizations in Tajikistan”, the UNDP “Rule of law and access to justice” project, and the Sigrid Rausing Foundation “Support for civil initiatives to prevent torture in Tajikistan” project.